[PSYC BC2151]
Organizational Psychology

Professor Bernstein CARES. He cares about what he teaches and how he teaches it. He also genuinely cares that you learn something in his class both about the field of organizational psychology and about yourself . He cares about being a good teacher and often provides opportunity for his students to give him feedback throughout the semester. He also cares about being a fair grader and provides extra credit opportunities and give students who have attended every lecture 5 points of extra credit, which allows the work of those who go the extra mile to be recognized. Most of all, he cares about his students and the experience that they have in his classroom.

I personally think that teachers who care are the best teachers - and therefore it is no surprise that Professor Bernstein's class on organizational psychology was one of the best I've ever taken at Columbia/ Barnard.

Workload:

A midterm, final paper, final presentation, weekly readings, 4 reflective practices and a few group assignments.
This seems like a lot but it really isn't that bad because assignments are interesting and often self-relevant.

The topic is beyond interesting, but the delivery is what makes this a must-take class. You will be using concepts you learn from this class in your everyday life and it will help you combat biases you'll run into in the future. Ariel is the perfect conduit to bring you the information and you will find yourself enjoying the hell out of classes.

There is a reason a lottery system is required at the beginning of the semester. Take the course.

Workload:

Digestible and interesting readings every class, midterm, a few group projects, final paper and final presentation.

Ariel is one of the best professors that I have had at Barnard/Columbia. He covers information thoroughly and in a manner that is interactive and helps you retain the information. He seems to genuinely care about students and the subject material. My only complaint is that we had covered more information as I found I/O psychology very interesting.

Workload:

readings every week, group assignments (2-3), midterm exam, final paper

Professor Bernstein is great! He does a nice job of balancing between lectures and discussions. He is not only receptive to feedback but genuinely encourages it on a regular basis, using the continue-start-stop notecards. He tries to make the learning material as relevant as possible to graduating seniors, and so you leave the classroom feeling like you've learned more about yourself and how you work with others. He is a really fair instructor in that he provides detailed feedback on assignments and provides sufficient time for completing assignments. Overall, he seems to care a lot about his students!

Workload:

a couple short readings before each class, a group paper written mostly in class, midterm, a final paper, and a group presentation. overall not too bad.

Ariel is a gem. He is patient, funny, smart, intentional, and engaging. He wants class to be enjoyable and wants students to learn. He clearly is passionate about Organizational/Industrial Psychology, and he knows a ton about it.

Ariel is like a how-to book for what every professor should do. He invites feedback, makes us work in groups, has us give each other anonymous feedback to our team members, and gives us unique and varied assignments. This course is a psychology must-take.

If you do not get into this course at first (enrollment is strictly capped and it's very popular), email him and ask to be held on a list for the next semester. If he continues this policy, it is completely reliable and he is super responsible about it.

This course will force you to think critically about organizations and institutions with which you have come in contact in the best way. It will also force you to think about your own strengths in a very useful way, as well as the ways in which you work in a team.

Definitely take this class.

Workload:

Totally reasonable.
4 short reflections throughout the semester
1 midterm (fair, not too hard) on the first half of the semester
1 group case project as part of the midterm
1 final group presentation
1 final paper (6-8 pages), independent
optional extra credit
weekly readings - textbook not necessary to read (Ariel will tell you this); definitely read the articles for the purpose of assignments and class discussions

Take this class! Honestly, this was the best class I've ever taken at Columbia. Professor Cruz truly organizes the class in a way that allows you to learn more about your learning style. He showed that he genuinely cared about the well-being and personal growth of each and every student in the class. If you keep up with the assignments, there is no reason why you can't do well. He is a generous grader, so grades shouldn't be an issue if you put in the work. If you do take this class though, I recommend not coming in with the mindset of just getting a good grade. You'll get so much more out of the experience if you come in genuinely wanting to learn, instead of just being focused on how many points you have.
I was truly blown away at the end of the course. He gave a heartfelt speech that really tied together everything we learned. I never thought I would ever take a course that would make me cry for a reason that wasn't related to grades, but Professor Cruz proved me wrong.
My only regret is not going to his office hours to get to know him more as a person.

Workload:

Hands down, one of my top 3 favorite classes I've taken in college, maybe even my absolute favorite. Professor Bernstein really makes the class into a personal journey for every student, allowing you to take a learning orientation (focusing on what you learn and take away from the class) as opposed to a performance orientation (getting a good grade in the class). Your grade is a reflection of your effort and dedication. Above any other class, I truly felt like what I put into the class, I more than got out of it. You get a group for projects throughout the semester, but this experience was unlike any other I've ever had in a positive way. Groups are made based on individual evaluations that put people who complement each other together, so we were able to work together in the highest capacity I've ever seen in a group dynamic. They were the best group-project experiences I've ever had.

Throughout the course, he encourages you and gives assignments that help you reflect on yourself, your progress, learn about who you are, and what you're strengths and weaknesses are. He holds himself to the same high standards that he holds his students, and keeps everything as fair as possible. Rather than rely on only course evaluations at the end of the semester to improve himself and the class, he takes the time to give students the opportunity to anonymously give him feedback and constructive criticism. This way, the every facet of the class improves while you're there (instead of just benefitting the next semester's class) and becomes tailored to what's best for the students. If you can get into this class, take it. I learned so much about myself-- things that I'll take with me, wherever I go, for the rest of my life. Best thing I could've done senior year.

Also he's probably one of the hottest professors I've ever had. Definitely payed attention because I liked the course material, but I gotta say it didn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes. (Sorry ladies, he's married!)

Workload:

The following might seem like a lot, but I one of those people who complains about workload all the time and even I thought it wasn't bad at all. Readings/TedTalks for every class, but they're all really interesting! In class midterms exam, approx bi-monthly surveys, monthly "reflections in practice" to help you better digest the material as it apples to you, 2 group case memorandums, individual case analysis.

Ariel is an incredibly down-to-earth and self-aware professor who really takes the time to get to know his students. He loves feedback to tailor the class to student needs. The class usually starts out with 5-8 minutes spent on an attendance question (really easy questions like what's your favorite place to visit, or a person you would want to work with, etc.). These are light-hearted questions that allow him to get to know students better as well foster a friendly atmosphere inside the classroom.

He has a powerpoint ready for each lecture and really encourages students to ask questions throughout the class as well as foster discussion with classmates. We usually have to read 1-2 articles or watch a short video for each class. However, these readings and videos are super interesting so it doesn't take long at all.

During some classes, we break off into groups to do small in-class tasks which has relevance to the day's lecture topic. Also, we're assigned groups to work with for our case analysis and end-of-semester presentations. The groups aren't made completely random; he asks students to complete a team role inventory form so groups are balanced in terms of different working styles and group contributions.

Course Topics
a) Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology
b) The Individual in the Organization
c) The Group in the Organization
d) The Organization as a Whole

Overall, organizational psychology is a very interesting field and I wish I got to major in something like this during college. The topics are very relevant for graduating seniors in terms of understanding dynamics in the workplace, teamwork, and leadership. Ariel is also super fun and presented the material that made coming to class worth it. Our class was at 6pm 2x week but no one ever fell asleep and remained super engaged (definitely a hallmark of success for an evening class).

Ariel is an absolutely amazing professor! This is one of those classes that keeps your attention and always seems to fly by. The class is interesting and all the information is presented in an easy to digest manner. Ariel is very interested in creating an open environment in the classroom and is always transparent with students. He brings in real life examples to demonstrate topics, as well as welcomes any questions students may have. I could not recommend this class and professor enough! This was definitely one of the best classes I have taken at Barnard!!!

Workload:

Very reasonable! A lot of podcasts and news articles, all very interesting and usually easy to read. It is very necessary to do the reading the first half of the class because there is a midterm. The second half is less necessary, but they interesting discussed in class discussions.

- Midterm (strait forward, as long as you go to class and do readings and review you will make an A)
- Group Case Study Paper (given time in class, and only requires a few hours outside of class)
- Group Case Study Presentation
- Individual Case Study Paper
- 3-5 short reflection papers
- GIVES EXTRA CREDIT

Ariel is fantastic. He is very open about having students ask questions to foster a great classroom conversation.I recommend his class for sure. Everyone said you had to take it with Mateo Cruz but I am not let down at all by Ariel. He is a great teacher who is engaging and knowledgable. I loved his transparency and funny humor (usually regarding his dog Maximus who is rumored to attend our last class).

Take this class! =]

Workload:

You should actually do the assigned readings because there is usually a conversation about them in class. Several reflections (2-4 pages) which are very interesting and eye opening to complete. Some group work (2 papers and a presentation) as well.

This is literally the best class I have taken in my four years at Columbia. Worth every minute I spent learning the material, working on assignments, and meeting with Mateo. If you have the option to take this class, you absolutely should. The two reviews below are accurate 100%: The material is interesting and relevant to life after graduation. Lectures are organized and class expectations are very clear. Mateo's personal interest in every student is strong and he's willing to set up meetings to discuss not only classwork, but future career paths, and life in general. I can't say much else that hasn't already been said, except that I hope Mateo gets a gold nugget soon: he deserves it.

Workload:

2 position papers on lecture relevant topics
readings for every class; you can get away with not doing most of them, but there are a few that are really important (you'll get it, he mentions them over and over)
midterm and final
a ton of small group projects
2 group case studies
1 individual case study

Mateo is probably one of the best teachers I've had at Columbia and one of the few who really left me speechless by the end of the semester. His final lecture is incredibly touching and really changed how I think about college and life as a whole.

He is incredibly organized and invested in the class. He uses data, examples, and personal anecdotes to really drive points home and is clearly comfortable explaining the material. HIs office hours are AWESOME and he will literally counsel you through life.

The material itself is also really interesting. As someone who took this for the Business concentration, this was the best elective choice by far. I'm not a huge psych person, but this was an actually practical application of psych with many real world uses. You will learn a lot.

Our TA was also very funny and helpful. Shoutout to Ari

Another thing I loved about this class was the incorporation of group work. He really uses the class to make you look introspectively to how you perform in a team. You might get a shitty team which will make your semester hard, but it's a great introduction into real world team work.

Take this class, you won't regret it. You also probably won't get it if you're not a senior

I have to leave a review for Mateo just to express how completely awesome he is. Even though I am afraid that if more people hear how fantastic his class is, there will be too much competition to get in (it was already a lot this semester, like 80 people tried to get in and he can only take 35-40). The class is at a weird time (I didn't get to eat dinner twice a week, which was annoying)- but after trying it on the first day I knew I had to be there. And it was absolutely worth it.

Any good things you hear about Mateo are well-deserved. He puts his full effort into the class, always looking like he is happy to be there and like he really enjoys teaching. I have never seen a professor care this much about his students and wanting them to really learn and be challenged, to do well (grade-wise), AND for them to be happy and not too stressed. AND he wants them to do well in their careers and their lives and wants to help them get there. Yeah, other professors care too, but sometimes its more like they care in theory, or only for the students who reach out and go to office hours. For Mateo, it's a whole 'nother level, he sincerely cares about everyone and their individual backgrounds and needs and concerns and will help them directly so that they can do well both in the course and in their careers.

He meets with students outside class and has a regular meeting for all his students (all=including from previous semesters and other colleges if they still want to come! and some do!) to talk about careers and life. I know some students in this class changed their perspectives on what they want to do with their lives and careers after learning from Mateo. He treats everyone as an individual and is considerate of their needs. He puts in a ton of time and effort to give every student individualized feedback on how they are doing and how they can improve.

Now that I've established that Mateo is awesome, I should also say that the class itself is great. We covered industrial and organizational psychology- the history of the field and the major concepts, and how they are useful in the real world. Everything in the class was practical and applied- what we did is also what we were learning. For example, to learn about the 4 different styles of job design, four groups had to do a task under different conditions (packing bags of candy) and then report on how it felt and what the pros and cons were that they experienced. (and the whole class got to eat the candy afterwards.) To learn about different types of groups in organizations, we did group work ourselves to see how it plays out. Another really cool topic we covered was group dynamics and the way people fill the roles the group demands of them, it seriously changed the way I look at myself and other people whenever I am in a group interacting with others.

Every class was different and no single class involved doing only one thing throughout the whole time- the course was a mix of lecture, activities, sometimes watching a movie clip to analyze something in it, and even time to work on our group homework projects when we needed it.

The coolest thing ever is how Mateo takes things personally, not just assigning it for the students- he asks for student feedback on how he can improve the class, writes it all down, and then actually incorporates it into his teaching. I have never seen anyone else do that, more professors should! In fact, I wish Mateo could give classes in how to teach to the rest of the professors in this school!

Organizational Psychology is a much more fascinating topic than I expected, I don't think I would have liked it as much with any other teacher. It could so easily have been dry or abstract, but thanks to Mateo, even though I don't plan on becoming an organizational consultant, and even if I don't remember all the exact terms for everything, I know I will use the concepts in my life and future career, whatever I end up doing. I highly recommend taking this class.

Workload:

Midterm and final. Choose 2 of 4 topics for "position papers" in which you make an 2 page argument on the assigned topic based on the research that's been done. Individual case analysis (you choose your example) and group analysis of a case with recommendations for solving the problems (a written report based on industrial-psych theory and later on, a presentation on the same case from the perspective of the organizational-psych part of the course). Attendance and participation count too.

As I write this up, it sounds like there are a lot of different projects- but in reality you get a lot of time in class to work on things and if your group manages its time well it's not a big deal. Honestly, doing work for Mateo makes you WANT to do the homework and do a good job because he wants to see you do well! And it's not busywork, you're learning from it, but in a different style than most classes in this school. The only assignments that caused me any stress whatsoever are the midterm and final- the rest is all kinda fun actually.

I read so many great reviews for this course that I could not be more dissappointed. Be prepared to sit through three hours of meaningless common sense business environment advice like "when giving feedback do it in a constructive way, dont attack"...also the professor couldnt be less interesting to listen to. The reading is useless except to have the jargon. You spend three months in a team with three other people making up a fake business proposal (that you get no instruction on and has nothing to do with class readings, be prepared for an unfair grade for the written portion). All in all a really annoying, frustrating experience for what could be a great class. The fault lies on the professor and her selected readings.

Workload:

P10 pg planning paper, 15 page written proposal, 15 minute presentation, all with the team,...8 pg indiv final paper and a final exam....a LOT of busy work with no real reward---avoid it.

I want to start off by saying that the other reviews of this professor are naieve at best.

--the course topic is interesting, engaging and pop-culturally relevant but not academic (or not presented in an academic way) at all. there is a limit to how well/much one can teach the virtues of good business. it's like training someone to have a better sense of humor. maybe it could work, sort of. and there's no way it's going to be a complete success.
--the class is so long, it verges on torture. people spent copious time doodling, text-messaging and playing games like minesweeper, to give you an idea of what might be more entertaining than the lecture itself
--the first half of class is generally a lecture. kammrath addresses the class as if they were in approximately the 7th grade. there are some cool things you learn about business dynamics, but the entire course is devoted to sugar coating concepts and abstracting real ideas so much so that they beocme vague/weak/misunderstood
--incredibly annoying 'target' language that becomes the rule rather than the exception. no offensive words, nothing that inherently implies a conflict, distrust or failure.
--the second half of the class is an activity that is geared at driving the lecture topic home. it resembles a psych lab. the activities are sometimes enjoyable, definately better than listening to the lecture, but everyone takes them so seriously/personally---it becomes profoundly obvious that they do not realize that the exercises are not in REAL LIFE
--Kammrath is nice and sweet, but boring and likes to cite her own flaws to the class. no cool stories or comedy from this woman. and she wont blow you away w/ her brilliance or command of the subject. She was a slight upgrade from a kindly TA.

--overall, the topic is fun to learn about, and pretty light hearted. the class is a bit remniscient of an afterschool program. actually, i would say it's exactly like an afterschool program. too long, sometimes fun, but ultimately a take-it or leave-it kind of class.

Workload:

--there is a TON of assigned reading, almost none of which is required in earnest. i would do one or two of the assigned readings, or just skim a few random pages. sometimes i wouldnt do anything to prepare, and i still had no trouble being an active memeber of the class discussion. bsing is EASY here. try and look like you're paying attention, a little creative thought and some good synonyms go a long way.
--weekly reading that could choke a horse, group project (dont ask), final paper, final essay-style exam, oh and a participation grade! hooray for teachers who feel like taking attendance is a good way to make people want to show up and get them enthused about joining the class discussion
--the group project is potentially a nightmare. she appoints the groups, there is no way to guarantee input from other group members--you cant fire anyone or force them to do a fair amount of work, or if they do have an input, there is no guarantee that it will be near the quality of work that you would be comfortable with turning in. do i sound like im speaking from experience?

not horrible, because there is limited crediblity in the field itself. most professional business psychologists make things up out of thin air, so its easy for you to do the same